EPA chief, Salt Lake City mayor challenge businesses to cut energy use

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library on Wednesday. The Mayorís Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use ó and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy listens during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker shakes hands with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library on Wednesday. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use -- and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues.

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Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library on Wednesday. The Mayorís Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use ó and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy listens during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker shakes hands with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library on Wednesday. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use -- and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks during a press conference introducing the Mayor's Skyline Challenge at the Salt Lake City Public Library Wednesday May 21, 2014. The Mayor's Skyline Challenge is a competition that strives to reduce citywide building energy use - and the importance of improving energy efficiencies in buildings as part of overall efforts to address air quality issues.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· May 21, 2014 5:17 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy joined Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker Wednesday to call on local businesses and institutions to cut energy waste and air pollution.

"Air quality issues are typically associated with vehicles, and rightly so. But along the Wasatch Front, 32 percent of winter air pollution is from sources other than cars, and much of that is from energy consumption in our buildings," Becker said during a media event on the roof of the city's Main Library, announcing his Skyline Challenge.

This multi-year competition strives to reduce citywide building energy use by 15 percent by 2020.

McCarthy is in Utah this week meeting with Gov. Gary Herbert and his staff to discuss measures aimed at curbing air pollution. She is also on a media tour to bring attention to the Obama Administration's forthcoming proposal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.

During her three-day visit, she will view urban energy efficiency projects and meet with business leaders to discuss their efforts to promote sustainability.

Brian Maffly